Behavior of Metal Fractions with Depth in Soils of Children’s Play Grounds within Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Children of primary and nursing age bracket often engage in activities that make then ingest playground soil through their mouth 1, . These pica activities have health implications due to presence of contaminants in the soil. Therefore, if polluted with toxic heavy metals, surface soil could become a major concern of health risks to the public . Researchers have linked child health to both type and cover of playgrounds and interesting literature exist on studies of children playgrounds in developing nations 4, . However such studies are yet to be conducted in Nigeria. Children’ s hands after playing contain elevated amount of metals and chromium (Cr) and arsenic (As) were largely adsorbed in children’ s hands from playgrounds soils. As a result of their toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulative behavior and above all their mode of action in children, heavy metals constitute a group of serious pollutants in our natural environment.